An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts.

Attributed to Otto von Bismarck, the line asserts that Germans cannot be successfully motivated by intimidation—only by appeals to honor, duty, or national interest. Read rhetorically, it functions less as a sociological claim than as a political posture: it frames “fear” as unworthy of a proud people and implies that threats from abroad (or coercion at home) will stiffen resolve rather than produce compliance. In Bismarckian terms, it also serves as a warning to opponents that pressure tactics are counterproductive, while simultaneously flattering domestic audiences with an image of steadfast national character.